Remarks of CANSO Director General, Jeff Poole, to China Civil Aviation Development Forum in Beijing, China, on 25 May 2017

At the China Civil Aviation Development Forum on 25 May 2017, CANSO Director General, Jeff Poole, explored the new entrants to airspace, technology and business models that are transforming global ATM performance.

In his remarks, Jeff Poole explained how new entrants to airspace (such as drones, space vehicles, balloons, solar-powered planes) and new technologies (like ADS-B, digitisation of air traffic control towers, System Wide Information Management and artificial intelligence), are acting as catalysts in our thinking on how we continue to safely and efficiently manage airspace.

In addition, he noted that the business models of the companies that provide air navigation services are also changing, driven by the new technology combined with a gradual shift in attitude by States, enabling a degree of liberalisation and greater commercialisation in the industry.

As a result, Jeff Poole encouraged the ATM industry to keep pace and anticipate change so it can provide air navigation services that are up to date and reflect current, new and future airspace users as well as growing air traffic. This includes investments by States to modernise and upgrade infrastructure.